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A
Short Examination of Music—Is It Christian Or Is It Secular?
By David G. Kuhtenia In
many circles—including ninetyandnine.com
readers it seems—there is a recurring argument about listening to
“Secular” vs. “Christian” music. To
some, there is really no issue: “If it is not Christian, we don’t listen.” Others are not quite in sync with this notion, and take a
different view. Unfortunately,
discussions on this subject often get bogged down by personal opinions about a
song, a particular artist, or even general types of music.
(Remarks like “You better enjoy that stuff down here, because while it
may be present in the afterlife, it certainly won’t be in heaven” can
effectively halt meaningful discussions!) In
an attempt to gain a little perspective without getting bogged down, I’d like
to examine a few of the central
issues without naming particular artists or even insulting a particular genre of
music (with the possible exception of Broadway musicals. Have you ever broke out into a 1940’s sounding song while talking to
your neighbor about everyday matters? Me
neither.). A Big Deal
For
whatever reason, music seems to hold a special place in our everyday lives. It is not uncommon to find it at or very near the top of the
list when surveys are taken of what brings people pleasure.
Try typing “sing” into your KJV
Bible software, or “music” into your NIV Bible software and it is quickly
apparent that music also plays (pun intended) a significant role in spiritual
matters. As
an indication of how closely music can be linked to the inner person, consider
Paul’s words, “What is it then? I will
pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing
with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” (1
Corinthians 14:15) The Bible also
goes to the trouble of specifically pointing out one of the first humans to be
considered a musician, “And his
brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and
organ.” (Genesis 4:21) First Things First
What
makes music “Christian” anyway? Perhaps
one definition might be “the stuff that gets played on Christian radio
stations.” Another might be
“music that is put out by Christian recording labels.”
Others maintain that music is only “Christian” if it is by Apostolic
artists. (After all, if one believes in false doctrine, why would you want their
influence getting into your brain?). You
can probably get as many definitions of this as the number of people that you
ask. Getting Beneath the Surface
One
aspect that practically everyone seems to agree with is that music is an art
form (which explains why we often refer to musicians as artists.
With this basic agreement in-hand, we can start asking ourselves a few
questions: 1.
What kind of art do we enjoy? Many
people enjoy the visual arts. These
may be classic paintings, photographs, tapestries, or other visual
presentations. Simple images can
often evoke emotion when we see them. Do
you recall the odd fascination that you felt when you first examined the Mona
Lisa, or the inherent appreciation of nature that seems to emanate from an Ansel
Adams black-and-white photograph? 2.
What emotional connection do we have with the art that we enjoy? Art is an interesting subject—it is probably safe to say
that sculptures really do not affect a lot of people, but what if you were
raised in a Catholic home and suddenly see a statue of Mary? As another example, it is always fascinating to be part of
the audience observing even the most simple play or theater production that is
reasonably well done. Everybody in
the entire room knows that it is not 30 A.D., but we can get completely drawn
into a production put on by Junior High kids with fake beards portraying a scene
from the Gospels. 3.
What is the end result of our interaction with art? The scriptures state “The
heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm
19:1). Does the photograph you see
inspire you to say “Amen”? Perhaps
you have a favorite project from your childhood that you keep around just to
honor the memory of your father and mother.
Or maybe you picked a particular tapestry just because it matches the
other colors in your house, and it helps to make your home a more peaceful place
to be in. 4.
What is “Christian” art? This
can be a tricky question. If a
photograph reminds you of the glory of creation, is it relevant that the artist
is or is not a Christian? If a
particular play helps you understand basic human nature and the benefits of
living in harmony with your fellow human beings, is it necessary that it was
performed at church? Back to Music
Given
that music generally has a higher impact on us than most of the other arts that
we encounter, let’s re-examine the original question of what music is
acceptable for Christians to listen to in the same context as the questions that
were just discussed. 1.
What kind of music do we enjoy? God has
created and blessed the full spectrum of our everyday lives.
Without question, when the scripture says to “Speak
to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in
your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19, NIV) it is good to have music
that does this. In addition,
however, life also involves things such as love, family, the creation, different
emotions, and difficult struggles. If
it is acceptable to enjoy paintings, plays, literature, and photography that
explore these same life issues, why not music? 2.
What emotional connection do we have with the music that we enjoy? In almost every area of life that is legitimate and good,
Satan has perverted that same area against the original intention of God.
Just as paintings and photography can bring us the majesty of creation,
they can also be used for pornographic purposes.
In the same way, if the music we listen to distances us from our daily
walk with Jesus Christ, it should be avoided.
As with virtually all areas of life, there is nothing inherently good or
evil about music. Like any other
kind of art, if our emotional connection to music is consistent with our walk
with God, enjoy it; if, however, the music that we listen to elicits reactions
that results in our being “… drawn
away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14), then by all means, turn
it off—and keep it off. 3.
What is the end result of our interaction with music? In many ways, the Bible seems to be bottom-line oriented.
Therefore, if the music we listen to comes between me and
God, it is wrong. If, however, it
brings added meaning, enjoyment, and insight into my life in a way that is
consistent with a Godly walk, it is probably not wrong. 4.
What is “Christian” music? Perhaps
the better question would be to ask “What is acceptable music for a Christian
to listen to?” Many a
“Christian” recording that has legitimately blessed and strengthened large
numbers of listeners has been performed by artists that turn out to have less
than stellar personal lives. Does
this lessen the “blessing” that originally came to the listener? Of course not. The
fact of the matter is that it is very difficult to judge the validity of any
particular artist that happens to be on a “Christian” or any other recording
label. Given that this is the case,
we must go back to the principle of the matter.
If what we involve ourselves in hurts our walk with God, leave it behind.
If, however, our involvement in the art of music is consistent with the
full range of a Spirit-filled life here on planet Earth, enjoy!
Remember, “All things are lawful
unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I
will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). But is Music a Special Case?
Certainly,
music has a greater impact on the lives of most people than practically any of
the other arts, if for no other reason than its higher penetration level.
As such, it does deserve closer scrutiny.
For example, many parents and Youth Leaders find it smart to advise
younger people to avoid secular music in general, given the immoral nature of
the music they might choose to absorb. There
is certainly a lot of common sense in this approach.
As
with most things, however, it is important not to lose sight of the overall
principle—it is not the fact that the music is not “Christian,” but that
the music has a negative impact on the listener.
It is sometime even the case that new believers will avoid even listening
to Christian music if it is too similar to what they were heavily involved with
in their B.C. days. As Paul
intimated, all things may be legal, but not always a good idea. The
Big Picture
The
simple fact of the matter is that music is neither inherently good nor evil, but
is a powerful form of the arts that can be an excellent influence in our lives,
or an ugly influence on our lives.
Some find it expedient to strictly limit their art to overtly Christian
forms and have a Biblical foundation for doing so.
To embrace a wider scope of life in the musical arts, however, can also
be acceptable in a balanced Christian walk.
As
is always the case, the scriptures say it best, “Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it
is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
(Philippians 2:12-13). ninetyandnine.com © 2001, David G.
Kuhtenia David G. Kuhtenia
is the North American Coordinator for Campus Ministry International and a
consulting engineer to the nuclear power industry. He and Michelle are mulling over the suggestion of
"woof" by Jasmine the dog for the name of the upcoming arrival of the
first Kuhtenia of the new Millennium. They are unsure if the suggestion was
meant as the name of a boy, or a girl.
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